Aloha Kākou,

Today was an important work day and connection point in the voyaging story. The drydock that was pretty quiet as today is the first day of the three day weekend here in Aotearoa but we had a few visitors who braved the rain to see friends on the crew and the canoes. The sight of the canoes out of the water stop most in their tracks. Almost half these vessels are usually hidden beneath the water, masking their scale and scope. Their entire hulls out on the hard deck is an amazing sight- even to those of us who call the canoe home for months at a time.

Our friend from Tahiti, Tautu Taraufau and his son came to visit us today. His parents have been a host family of Hōkūleʻa crews since the early days of voyaging. Captain Bruce has been staying at their family home for decades. In fact, Tautuʻs son, Kealaikahiki, was named by Bruce, to honor the pathway that connects Hawaiʻi and Tahiti. Indeed this family connects us too. Tautu was staying with us in Hawaiʻi some 25 years ago when Keao was born and they sent a name from their family for Keao. His middle name is Heiariʻi. It’s such a stunning gift that might only be made because of these canoes that connect us.

There were hoʻailona, all day as we worked on projects that honor those names that connect us to the genealogy of the canoes. Iʻve written on previous voyages about the names that persist on different parts of the canoe that pay homage to those that have lead our canoes and our crews, Indeed, this practice is meant to reinvigorate the methods of remembering these names- its realty more than remembering, its more than honoring, I think it is to embed their mana in this vessel that has carried them for thousands of miles.

And so today, I witnessed something rare. Our crew took time to add the names of two individuals who have left us in the physical world but still guide us as we sail these waʻa kaulua. Captains and Pwo Navigators Kālepa Baybayan and Shorty Bertelmann names were added to the navigator’s platform. Kālepa on the starboard hull next to Nainoa and Shorty on the port side next to Mau.

These canoes have sailed through space and time. They carry with them those who dreamt of days when canoes would once again sail to these far away places to connect and reconnect our ʻohana across the Pacific. I want to say thank you to Uncle Shorty and Kālepa for carrying the weight of leadership all these years so that dream could turn into reality.

With Aloha,

Naʻalehu

PS- this is my final BLOG of my short time in Aotearoa. My kuleana is finished for the time being and I am making my way back to Hawaiʻi. The rest of the crew will be at drydock through the end of the month. Thank you all for coming along with us on this incredible journey. Sending aloha to you all.